We
are
specialist restorers of all antique clock movements and cases, having a
knowledge of the clock movement and the period from whence it was made.
This knowledge allows us to restore a period or antique clock back to
its original state.

One of our specialisations is the restoration of antique
long
case
clock movement and cases. These long case movements (or grandfather
clock movements) come to us in a state of disrepair, sometimes so rusty
and
green with verdigre, the dial bearing no paint or numerals whatsoever
and the cases are very often in many parts.

We can restore these clocks back to their original concept
totally,
using materials from the period from whence they came taking pride in
their originality.

We think you will agree that our renovation work is of
the
highest
standard and you can trust us to undertake the best repairs and
conservation work possible with your much loved and cherished antique
clocks.

Insurance or probate antique valuations ...

Conservation help and advice ...

We
at Green & Cockburn are willing to help with any antique
restoration project. Please contact us with your antique clocks and
furniture restoration problems. Perhaps we can offer help and advice.

Recent before and after examples of our antique
clock
restoration and conservation work

We undertake and specialise in the restoration of antique longcase clocks in particular, but we do repair all antique
clocks from small domestic items up to and including
clocks from churches, cathedrals, country
homes and other large buildings.

We can repair and restore clock cases including Dutch
Marquetry restoration

Walnut
Longcase Clock by Williamson of London

A fine walnut longcase clock with features as used by the famous maker
Thomas Tompion.

This
fine antique walnut cased clock by Joseph Williamson of London circa
1680 came to our workshop in a rather sorry condition after falling to
the
ground.

Below you can see a picture of the damage as photographed by the client
prior to our receiving the clock.

As
you can see the clock has fallen apart completely, this is partly due
to the weight of the clock, these early clocks were made from oak then
veneered over with walnut and after a period of time the glue on the
blocks holding the case together crystallise, the movement has received
a heavy knock and is badly bent and broken.

One of the most
important factors of restoration on this sort of clock is to
undertake repairs in such a way as that when the clock is finished to
make it so it is not obvious that the clock has received any damage
whatsoever.

After this restoration work, the clock should
look in original condition as if it had been looked after and polished
and loved for years.

Below you can see photographs of the finished clock in the clients
house.

The insurance value of these clocks generally exceeds £20,000 therefore
they are certainly worth having restored well.

A clock
rather similar to this was sold by P
A Oxley in Wiltshire you can see a
picture of the clock above. This clock sold for £22,500

Fine
French mantel clock circa 1840

We were called to London one-day to look at a clock that had fallen to
the floor.

This
house was a particularly large London property to say the very least
and this clock was rather important as apparently it was bequeathed to
the property from Lincoln's estate.
This clock was in a
particularly bad way, the dial was broken and the movement had a bent
winding shaft and the main shaft arbor was missing completely, the
movement also had other broken wheels and shafts, the marble base was
also broken and cracked.

Below you can see photographs of the item as we received it in a box,
prior to restoration.

On
the photograph on the left you see in the centre that the main arbour
is broken and missing you can also see the bent shaft which corresponds
with the damage on the dial in the photograph on the right
just below the 3 o'clock.

Below you can see damage to the marble of the clock which happened when
the clock fell.

The
base is broken and cracked matching marble is often quite complicated
as are many types and matching old marble is even more complicated
because it has some age associated with it then of course one has to
cut it and mould it.

Below you can see an example of the finished movement dial and Marble
case.
Below
you can see an enlarged photograph of the damaged area which is on the
right-hand side winding hole the dial has been re-enamelled completely.

The
high quality 8 day movement with 5 finned pillars, anchor escapement
and an unusual design of rack striking sounding the hour on a bell. The
12" square brass dial with separate Tompion style silvered brass
chapter ring enclosing a matted centre showing both seconds, date and
very finely made blued steel hands. The makers name signed to the base
of the chapter ring. The spandrels to the corners as used by Tompion.
The well proportioned and elegant case also of Tompion like design with
well figured book matched walnut veneer to both the base and trunk. The
base with a single plinth and the sides of the trunk with flame walnut
veneered panels. The hood with plain walnut pillars topped with gilt
wood capitals to the front and rear. The flat top case with fretwork to
the front elevation and glazed inspection windows to both sides. - See
more at:
http://www.british-antiqueclocks.com/blog/2012/06/28/newsletter-new-arrival-walnut-longcase-clock-by-williamson/#sthash.GDUXoBbX.dpuf

The
high quality 8 day movement with 5 finned pillars, anchor escapement
and an unusual design of rack striking sounding the hour on a bell. The
12" square brass dial with separate Tompion style silvered brass
chapter ring enclosing a matted centre showing both seconds, date and
very finely made blued steel hands. The makers name signed to the base
of the chapter ring. The spandrels to the corners as used by Tompion.
The well proportioned and elegant case also of Tompion like design with
well figured book matched walnut veneer to both the base and trunk. The
base with a single plinth and the sides of the trunk with flame walnut
veneered panels. The hood with plain walnut pillars topped with gilt
wood capitals to the front and rear. The flat top case with fretwork to
the front elevation and glazed inspection windows to both side - See
more at:
http://www.british-antiqueclocks.com/blog/2012/06/28/newsletter-new-arrival-walnut-longcase-clock-by-williamson/#sthash.GDUXoBbX.dpuf

French
Gilded Ormolu Clock

I was contacted by client who said
they had had a fire and
their clock was damaged.

below you can see pictures of this
clock prior to restoration, the clock is covered in verdigris and rust.

This clock was burnt and then soaked by fireman,
the clock was then left for a period of time for the client and the
insurance
company to decide on the action. It was decided after about a
year that this clock should be
restored.

In
the pictures above you can see the condition of the clock, the movement
on the right was covered in rust and verdigris and builders rubble and
apparently the firemen had used the clock at some stage as a doorstop.

The movement was so rusted all the pivots had to be remade
and most of the bushes had to be replaced.

Most
metal parts had to have the rust pitting removed and
the brass cleaned to
remove
verdigris.The case was then disassembled and each part cleaned
thoroughly
and then gilded using the electrolytic process.

The glass from the dial was removed using very hot water
which expands the bezel the bezel was then cleaned ready for
gilding.

When this clock was made it was gilded using
mercury but we cannot do that these days as the law does not
allow it.

The brass case is cleaned and then a copper flashing is put
upon the surface, it is
then gilded in 24 carat gold.

Below and above you can see a picture
of the movement after intense cleaning and restoration work.

The case is reassembled and the gilded bezel again reheated
in hot water and the glass re-added to the bezel.

After all the work on the movement is undertaken, and after
final
cleaning the
movement is reassembled and tested.

below you can see photographs of the finished gilded clock,

This
clock has been gilded using 24 carat gold with the electrolysis
process,
when the clock was made it would have been gilded using mercury,
this of course has now been made illegal.

Even
though the electrolysis process is not as original as the mercury
process it actually lays rather more gold on to the to the item being
gilded.

Below you can see the average repair undertaken in our work
shop,
this long case clock fell over damaging the hood and movement. This
clock dates from about 1790 and is in oak with mahogany banding and a
swan neck pediment.

Below on the left you can see a photograph of a long case
clock movement circa 1780 with a missing date wheel and wheel post.
These date wheel arrangements were often removed as they are famous for
having all sorts of problems associated with them. The snail has been
removed for clarity.

On the right you can see the same eight day long case clock
movement with a date wheel made and fitted. This has to correspond with
the snail and a seconds wheel which is fitted to the movement dial.

Freshly made but to original spec the seconds wheel with stay
and click spring.

And on the right a picture of a rather unusual eight-day Long
case clock
movement where we have replaced most of the wheels.

Below is a picture of a long case clock movement prior to
restoration, with some of the repairs we encounter, soft
solder has been used to make repairs and other parts have simply been
bashed
and dented by a hammer.

The Snail above will have to be replaced as you can see a
piece of brass has been added to the edge of the one o'clock position,
that is
to the top left of the picture this has been soft
soldered badly and the rest of the snail is also misshapen therefore
the striking
sequence is irregular.

You can also see the wheel below this is the date wheel. Once
more
we can see the use of soft solder this also will have to be replaced
when we undertaken a repair we often correct previous repairs that may
work, but are simply incorrect or unsightly and will if not corrected
will definitely devalue the clock.